Council wants Clacton to 'embrace this change'

But despite closing down, M&S still owns the lease to the building and will do until 2027.

Zoe Fairley, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Investment and Growth, said the authority and partners were looking at ways to adapt to a new future for Clacton town centre.

“While it is disappointing that Marks and Spencer in Clacton town centre has closed down, it represents a wider change in the retail environment and an opportunity to do something different in the town centre,” she said.

At the time, Clacton's branch was listed as one of the stores set to shut down.

When contacted, M&S said it was a 'difficult but necessary' move to close its doors in Clacton.

Marc O’Connor, Head of Region for Essex at Marks & Spencer, said: “The decision to close our Clacton store was a difficult but necessary one.

"We’d like to thank our customers for the feedback they’ve given the team and we hope to see lots of them continuing to shop at our other stores in the local area, including our new Foodhall in Walton-on-the-Naze which opened on Wednesday, November 28.”

What do the residents think?

Clacton town centre's M&S has closed for good (Image: Andrew King)

Opinions amongst local residents on what should now be introduced are divided.

A petition for giant fashion retailer Primark to open a store in the vacant building has been created by local residents who believe staying with retail is the best way forward.

The petition currently has just over 350 signatures - 150 short of its 500 target - but the numbers are increasing.

Shannon Ward, a Clacton resident who started the petition, said: "We need more clothes stores in Clacton instead of having tattooists, charity stores and salons down here.

"Due to not everyone having a lot of money to travel to Colchester to go to clothes stores down there and also not everyone drives.

"The money you spend on train tickets or buses you could easily use to buy more clothes in a Primark store if it comes instead of wasting it on travelling down there."

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Kelly Reed, a Clacton resident, believes a Primark is just what residents need.